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A welcome for caregivers
You do not need to be a cancer expert to care for someone. Start with a few practical steps, ask for help and make room for your own wellbeing too.
You are a caregiver too
If you help someone with cancer, whether as a partner, relative, friend or neighbour, this guide is for you. You may help every day, share tasks with others or support someone from a distance.
It is understandable to feel unsure or overwhelmed at times. You deserve clear information and support. You are not expected to manage everything alone.
Agree how you can help
Ask the person you support, “What would make today easier?” They may want practical help, company, privacy or time to do things themselves. Agree which tasks they want help with and whom they want involved in care discussions or updates.
If you are the primary caregiver, you help coordinate everyday care. That does not mean doing everything yourself, making decisions for the person or taking on professional nursing tasks.
Start with three simple things
- Know whom to call. Keep the treating team's daytime and after hours numbers handy, with a paper copy too. Ask where to go if urgent help is needed.
- Keep the current plan together. Put the latest prescription, treatment information and next appointment in one place.
- Share one task. Someone else may be able to collect medicines, arrange transport or prepare a meal.
The optional sheets below can help organise contacts and care information. Use them only if they make things easier.
Emergency and care-team contacts
Useful for any family, especially before treatment or coming home. You can start with the oncology team and one backup contact.
Add the treating hospital’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers, emergency department, ambulance provider and a backup caregiver. Check the numbers with the team; do not make a test call to an emergency line. Keep a copy in your folder and phone.
If someone is seriously unwell, seek emergency help. Do not wait for a message to be read.
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One-page care summary
Useful for any family, especially when travelling or seeing more than one team.
Copy details from verified reports. Record the last treatment date accurately. Keep older versions for history, but carry the latest summary. Ask the clinical team to check uncertain details.
Carry official discharge papers and treatment alert cards as well. This summary does not replace them.
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Ask questions and share concerns
You can say, “Could you explain that in simpler words?” or “What should we do if this happens at home?” Write down a question when it comes to mind and ask the team if the plan is unclear.
If you and the person you support disagree about care, ask the team to talk it through with you both. Their choices and dignity remain central.
Ask the team to show you
Before taking on an unfamiliar care task, ask a nurse or another member of the team to show you, then watch while you try. This is especially important for injections, wound care or looking after feeding tubes and drains.
Ask for written instructions and a number to call with problems. Say if a task feels beyond what you can manage so the team can help you find support. You do not need to buy monitoring devices simply to use this toolkit; ask what is needed for the person's care.
Coming home & practical care checklist
Before coming home or when care needs change.
Ask for written medicine changes, pending results, follow-up and contact routes. Check meals, walking/toileting, equipment, transport, household bills and dependent care. Ask a nurse to demonstrate any unfamiliar task and watch you practise.
Tell the team if safe care is not possible at home. Arrange trained support for tasks such as feeding tubes, injections, drains or wound care.
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Share the care, wherever you live
If you help from a distance, you can organise appointments, shopping or family updates. With the person's permission, agree who will help nearby and how you will stay in touch. Arrange a backup for times when the usual caregiver is unavailable.
Shared-care rota & handover
When relatives, friends or paid carers take turns.
Agree tasks with the patient. For each one, name who will do it, when it is needed and a backup. At handover, review how the patient is now, the last medicine doses and current instructions, pending calls and the next task or appointment. Give the next caregiver the contact details they may need.
If a task needs nursing skills, ask for teaching or professional support. No one should feel expected to perform care they have not been trained to give.
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References and further reading
When to get urgent help
You do not have to decide the cause of a symptom. Know when to call, where to go and what to tell the team.
Get emergency help now
- Severe or sudden breathing difficulty, severe chest pain, collapse, a seizure, or new confusion.
- Sudden facial drooping, difficulty speaking, or weakness on one side of the body, even if it starts to improve.
- Sudden swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, especially with difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop, or someone becoming unusually difficult to wake, especially with slow or difficult breathing after a medicine.
- New limb weakness, difficulty walking, numbness around the buttocks or genitals, or new inability to pass urine or control the bladder or bowels, especially with back pain.
In India, call 112 for emergency assistance. Outside India, use the local emergency number. Do not wait for an online reply.
Fever or sudden illness during treatment
During chemotherapy or a period when treatment increases infection risk, a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above needs immediate contact with the oncology team and prompt assessment. Use a lower threshold if your unit has given one. Some services use 37.5°C (99.5°F). Contact the team immediately for shaking chills, sudden illness or a temperature below 36°C (96.8°F) during this period, even without fever.
If the team cannot be reached promptly, go for emergency assessment. Do not wait for morning, a repeat blood count or a routine message. Tell staff that the person is receiving cancer treatment and give the date of the last treatment. Do not delay seeking help to see whether a fever medicine works.
Contact the treating team today
Call about new or worsening symptoms, including repeated vomiting, much less urine, new bleeding, pain that remains troublesome despite the prescribed plan, or mouth problems that make drinking difficult. If the person cannot keep fluids or essential medicines down, call for urgent advice and assessment now.
During or after immunotherapy, report new diarrhoea or other unexplained symptoms early; do not wait for the next appointment or start treating them yourself unless the team has given a written plan. Side effects can first appear after treatment has finished. Keep the treatment alert card and tell other clinicians about previous immunotherapy.
Severe abdominal pain with swelling, vomiting or inability to pass wind needs urgent assessment. New or increasing back pain also needs an early call, especially if it wakes the person at night. If weakness, walking difficulty or bladder or bowel changes appear, use the emergency advice above.
Follow the patient’s treatment-specific instructions, even if a symptom is not listed here. Normal-looking readings do not rule out serious illness. If you are unsure, call.
Keep the right details within reach
Keep your treating team’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers, emergency department and family backup in your phone contacts and at the front of the medical folder. The Contact sheet view brings together numbers you have entered here. Check the details with your team before you need them.
Emergency and care-team contacts
Useful for any family, especially before treatment or coming home. You can start with the oncology team and one backup contact.
Add the treating hospital’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers, emergency department, ambulance provider and a backup caregiver. Check the numbers with the team; do not make a test call to an emergency line. Keep a copy in your folder and phone.
If someone is seriously unwell, seek emergency help. Do not wait for a message to be read.
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Allergy & treatment alert card
Useful for any family. Keep the team-issued treatment alert card with this record.
Record the medicine or substance and the reaction, not just “allergy”. Use “status unknown” if unsure. Record relevant treatments such as immunotherapy, cellular therapy or blood thinners and the dates. Ask the team what needs an alert. If you are unsure whether a reaction was an allergy or a side effect, describe it and ask the clinician or pharmacist to check; do not decide the label yourself.
This is a companion record, not a replacement for an official immunotherapy, transplant or other treatment alert card.
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One-page care summary
Useful for any family, especially when travelling or seeing more than one team.
Copy details from verified reports. Record the last treatment date accurately. Keep older versions for history, but carry the latest summary. Ask the clinical team to check uncertain details.
Carry official discharge papers and treatment alert cards as well. This summary does not replace them.
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What to say when you call
“I am with [name], who is receiving [treatment]. The last treatment was on [date]. Since [time], they have had [symptom]. The temperature is [reading and time]. They can/cannot drink, are passing [usual/less] urine, and are [alert/drowsy/confused]. What should we do, and where should we go?”
References and further reading
Pain, symptoms and readings
A useful record tells the story of how someone feels and functions, as well as any measurements.
Start with the person
Ask about comfort, sleep, appetite and what feels different. Are they able to drink, walk to the bathroom and do their usual activities? Note a new change and when it began. You do not need a score for every symptom.
Symptoms and wellbeing record
Use on days when symptoms or care needs are changing.
Choose the symptoms that matter today. Write when they started, whether they are improving or worsening, and how they affect normal activities. Blank boxes mean not recorded, not “normal”.
Use the urgent-help guide for concerning changes. Recording a symptom does not send an alert to a clinician.
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Using the pain scale
Ask: “On a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable, how much pain do you have now?” Record the patient’s answer, where the pain is and what it prevents them doing. After the prescribed treatment, record the response at the interval agreed with the team. Do not guess a score for someone unable to communicate; describe what you observe and ask for an appropriate assessment.
The 0–10 numerical rating scale is widely used. It helps communication; it does not diagnose the cause of pain or tell you what medicine dose to give.
Pain diary
Use when pain is present or the clinical team asks for a record.
Ask the patient to score their own pain now from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Record the site, effect on activity or sleep, treatment taken and later response. Use the same question each time. A number cannot describe everything. If the patient cannot rate pain, leave the number blank, describe what you observe and ask for assessment.
Contact the team for new or worsening pain or inadequate relief. Sudden severe pain, chest pain or pain with new weakness needs urgent assessment. Do not calculate or change medicine doses from the score.
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Temperature and other readings
Check temperature when the person feels hot, shivery or unwell, and at other times requested by the team. Use a suitable digital thermometer as instructed and record the method. Ask the team which thermometer and method to use. Avoid rectal temperature checks if infection-fighting blood cells or platelets are low; use the method your team recommends.
Blood pressure, oxygen saturation, glucose and daily weight are useful in selected situations. Ask which measurements are needed, when to take them and what should trigger a call. A pulse oximeter can give misleading readings, including with cold hands, poor circulation, nail polish or darker skin pigmentation. Symptoms matter even when the number looks reassuring.
Temperature & optional vital signs
Temperature when unwell and whenever the team advises. Other readings only if requested.
Record the time, device/site and units. Follow the device instructions and your team’s method. Ask which readings to take, how often and the action thresholds. Do not buy equipment simply to complete this sheet. Select °C or °F; do not mix units.
During chemotherapy or treatment-related infection risk, 38°C (100.4°F) or above needs immediate contact and assessment; follow any lower threshold given. Sudden illness matters even with a normal reading.
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Blood-glucose record
Only when the treating team asks for glucose monitoring.
Use the same meter and follow training. Record whether the reading was before or after food, relevant medicine and symptoms. Always select the correct unit. Write the individual low/high action plan on the printed sheet or in the notes.
Follow the agreed low/high glucose action plan immediately. Do not change doses using this chart alone. If the person is very drowsy, cannot swallow safely or is unconscious, give nothing by mouth and seek emergency help.
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Weight record
When weight monitoring is useful; ask how often. Daily weighing is not necessary for everyone.
Use the same scales and similar clothing/time when possible. Record swelling, reduced intake or a major change in conditions. Weight changes can reflect fluid as well as nutrition.
Share ongoing weight loss or unexpected rapid changes with the team. Ask for an assessment rather than adjusting food or fluids from weight alone.
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Make records useful at the visit
Bring a short date range showing the problem, plus your main concern. “Pain wakes him every night despite the prescribed medicine” can be more helpful than a page of numbers alone. Recording never takes priority over seeking help.
References and further reading
Food, fluids and mouth care
Small, achievable steps are often more helpful than trying to make every meal perfect.
Make eating manageable
Offer smaller meals or snacks, at times the patient feels able to eat. Include a protein food they enjoy, such as dal, beans, pasteurised-milk paneer or curd, well-cooked eggs, fish or chicken, according to preference and advice. Soft or moist foods may be easier with a sore mouth. Thin soup on its own may provide too little energy and protein.
Ask what is getting in the way: nausea, taste changes, pain, constipation, anxiety or swallowing difficulty. Many of these problems can be helped. Avoid arguments about food or comments that make the person feel they are failing. Record approximate portions if useful and request dietitian support for persistent poor intake or weight loss.
Food & nutrition diary
Use when appetite is reduced, weight is falling or the dietitian asks for a record.
Record what the patient ate and roughly how much: all, three-quarters, half, a quarter or a few mouthfuls. Note protein foods and anything that made eating difficult. Approximate portions are more useful than guessed calories. Use the record to understand what helps, not to press the person to finish food.
Tell the team about continuing poor intake or weight loss. Request dietitian support. Coughing, choking or difficulty swallowing needs assessment.
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Weight record
When weight monitoring is useful; ask how often. Daily weighing is not necessary for everyone.
Use the same scales and similar clothing/time when possible. Record swelling, reduced intake or a major change in conditions. Weight changes can reflect fluid as well as nutrition.
Share ongoing weight loss or unexpected rapid changes with the team. Ask for an assessment rather than adjusting food or fluids from weight alone.
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Bowel record
Use for constipation, diarrhoea or when a bowel plan is being adjusted.
Record each bowel movement with its date and time, and describe it in words: hard, formed, soft or watery. Note how many there have been in the past 24 hours compared with the patient's usual pattern, any pain or blood, and medicines taken. If there has been no bowel movement, record when the last one occurred. Do not count a blank entry as normal.
Report new or increasing diarrhoea promptly; during or after immunotherapy, contact the team early and follow their written plan. Ask for advice if constipation persists despite the agreed plan. Do not use an enema or suppository unless the team recommends it. Severe abdominal pain, swelling, vomiting or inability to pass wind needs urgent assessment.
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Keep food safe
Wash hands, clean utensils, separate raw and cooked foods, cook animal foods thoroughly and refrigerate food safely. Use safe drinking water. Avoid unpasteurised dairy, raw sprouts and raw or undercooked eggs, meat and fish. Choose food sources with reliable hygiene.
Ask the team whether the patient needs any extra food precautions. Many people can eat carefully washed fresh fruit and vegetables, but advice can differ during stem-cell transplantation, intensive treatment for acute leukaemia, or prolonged severe suppression of immunity. In those situations, follow the treating centre's written food instructions. You do not need to create a long list of forbidden foods on your own.
Fluids: record only what is useful
Ask for an individual drinking target or restriction if one is needed. Use small, regular drinks if tolerated. A person with kidney or heart problems may have different instructions. Measure the usual cup once; record the volume actually drunk. A detailed intake–output record is for situations where the team requests it.
Fluid-intake record
Use when the patient is drinking poorly or the team requests tracking.
Measure a favourite cup once and write its volume. Record what was actually consumed in mL, not what was offered. Ask which liquids count towards any prescribed target or restriction.
Ask the team for an individual goal; there is no single target for everyone. Seek prompt advice for reduced drinking, vomiting or much less urine; severe weakness, confusion or inability to retain fluids needs urgent assessment.
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Intake–output chart
Only when requested, for a clearly stated period and with practical instructions.
Record each intake or loss once, in mL, over the interval agreed with the team. Use measured volumes where possible; if the team permits estimates, label them. If an amount is unknown, leave it blank rather than entering zero. Do not manipulate a catheter or drain unless trained and instructed.
Recorded intake minus recorded output is not a complete measure of hydration: breathing, sweat and unmeasured losses are not captured. Do not use the totals to change fluids, diuretics or treatment.
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Mouth care and swallowing
Use a soft toothbrush and the mouth-care plan advised by the team. Choose foods and temperatures that feel comfortable; avoid foods or mouthwashes that sting. Report difficulty swallowing or drinking. If the person coughs or chokes while eating or drinking, ask for assessment rather than simply changing the texture yourself.
When care is focused on comfort
Near the end of life, appetite and thirst often change. Do not force food or fluids. Ask the palliative-care team how to support comfort and mouth care; the right approach may differ from the earlier nutrition plan.
References and further reading
Make medicines easier to manage
A current prescription and one clear record help everyone work from the same plan.
Build the list with the pharmacist
Include cancer treatment, pain and nausea medicines, medicines for other conditions, vitamins and herbal products. Record the exact dose, route, time, food instructions and treatment days. “Morning” is not enough when a medicine has to be taken at a specific interval or on an empty stomach.
Keep regular medicines separate from those taken only when needed. For as-needed medicines, ask for the minimum interval, maximum prescribed amount and when to call if symptoms continue. Ask how and when to reassess the effect.
Current medicine schedule
Useful whenever more than one medicine is prescribed or instructions change.
Copy the latest prescription: name, strength, dose, route, exact times, treatment days and food instructions. Include supplements. Mark each medicine Current, Stopped, Superseded or Needs checking, with the date. When a plan changes, update the previous entry too. Ask the pharmacist to check which medicines are current.
This is a record, not a prescription. Update after every change. Ask for medicine-specific advice on a missed or vomited dose; do not improvise or double an anticancer dose.
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Record what actually happened
Write down a dose immediately after it is taken. When care changes hands, check the last doses together. If it is uncertain whether a dose was given, ask for advice rather than giving another “just in case”. Keep the old prescription separately marked as superseded after changes.
Choose one main record of doses actually taken, and agree who updates it. A medicine mentioned in the pain diary or symptom notes is not an extra dose. Before handing over, check the latest prescription and last doses together.
Medicine administration record
Useful when relatives share care or a medicine schedule is complex.
Choose one shared main record of doses taken. Write the medicine, amount, actual time and who gave it immediately after the dose. If missed or not taken, state that and the advice sought. A mention in another diary is not an additional dose.
Check the current prescription before each dose. Do not treat an empty box as proof that a medicine has not been given; check with the patient and other caregivers.
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As-needed medicine & response
When the patient has prescribed as-needed medicines.
Copy the prescribed minimum interval and maximum dose first. Record what was actually taken, why, the time and the response when reviewed. Keep pain scores in the pain diary if useful.
Ask for a review if extra doses are needed more often, symptoms remain troublesome or there are side effects. Being unusually difficult to wake or slow/difficult breathing after a medicine needs emergency help.
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Missed doses, vomiting and swallowing problems
Instructions differ between medicines. Contact the oncology team or pharmacist if an anticancer dose is missed, vomited or cannot be swallowed. Do not double a dose or repeat one automatically. Do not crush, split or open anticancer medicines without specific professional advice.
Storage, supplies and handling
Ask about temperature, safe handling, disposal and whether a pill organiser is suitable. Keep medicines away from children and pets. Check supplies before weekends or travel and record who will collect refills. Ask the team about handling body fluids after treatment; the precautions and duration depend on the drug.
For anticancer tablets or capsules, avoid touching the medicine directly. Ask the pharmacist to show you a safe way to give it and which gloves to use if handling is unavoidable. Wash your hands afterwards. Children and anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should not handle chemotherapy medicines or body fluids that may contain them. Ask which precautions apply and for how long. Normal company, touch and hugs can continue unless the team has given specific instructions.
It is reasonable to ask for a simpler written schedule or another demonstration. You are not expected to memorise every instruction.
References and further reading
Coming home and everyday care
You can ask for teaching, equipment and support. The home-care plan should be realistic for your family.
Before coming home
Going home can bring relief and uncertainty at the same time. A discharge plan should fit the patient's needs and what the people at home can realistically do.
Tell the team who will be available, including overnight, and what they can realistically manage. Ask about medicines, wound or device care, pending results, follow-up and the contact route for problems. If there are stairs, a difficult bathroom or no reliable helper, say so before discharge.
Coming home & practical care checklist
Before coming home or when care needs change.
Ask for written medicine changes, pending results, follow-up and contact routes. Check meals, walking/toileting, equipment, transport, household bills and dependent care. Ask a nurse to demonstrate any unfamiliar task and watch you practise.
Tell the team if safe care is not possible at home. Arrange trained support for tasks such as feeding tubes, injections, drains or wound care.
Download blank sheet · Sheet details
Emergency and care-team contacts
Useful for any family, especially before treatment or coming home. You can start with the oncology team and one backup contact.
Add the treating hospital’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers, emergency department, ambulance provider and a backup caregiver. Check the numbers with the team; do not make a test call to an emergency line. Keep a copy in your folder and phone.
If someone is seriously unwell, seek emergency help. Do not wait for a message to be read.
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Moving and personal care
Ask a nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist to demonstrate safe transfers and recommend suitable equipment. Keep walking routes clear and lighting adequate. Support independence and privacy with washing and toileting. Do not try to lift a person alone if it is unsafe.
If the person spends much of the day in bed or a chair, ask for an individual plan for skin checks, position changes and pressure-relieving equipment. Report sore, damaged or persistently discoloured skin. Avoid a fixed turning schedule that has not been agreed for that person.
Lines, drains, wounds and feeding tubes
Get hands-on teaching for any task you are expected to do, and ask whom to contact if something leaks, blocks, becomes painful or is displaced. Keep dressings and devices as instructed. Do not flush, remove or adjust them based on a general online guide.
Home is still home
Hand hygiene, safe food and avoiding close contact with people who are ill are useful starting points. Ask about precautions specific to the treatment. Do not assume that everyone needs isolation, a separate bedroom or a ban on all visitors.
A simple handover
When someone takes over, cover four things: how the patient is now; the last medicine doses and current instructions; the next task or appointment; and whom to contact if something changes. Keep the current prescription and contact sheet in the same agreed place.
Shared-care rota & handover
When relatives, friends or paid carers take turns.
Agree tasks with the patient. For each one, name who will do it, when it is needed and a backup. At handover, review how the patient is now, the last medicine doses and current instructions, pending calls and the next task or appointment. Give the next caregiver the contact details they may need.
If a task needs nursing skills, ask for teaching or professional support. No one should feel expected to perform care they have not been trained to give.
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Practical help can be care
A relative can organise shopping, laundry, school pickups, pet care or household bills. If the current arrangement is exhausting or unsafe, tell the team clearly: “This is what we can manage, and this is where we need help.” Ask about home nursing, rehabilitation, palliative care or social-work support available locally.
References and further reading
Appointments and treatment days
A short plan can help you arrive prepared, explain what matters and leave knowing the next step.
You do not need a perfect folder or a complete diary to attend. Bring what you have and tell the team what you are most concerned about.
The day before
Confirm where to go, the reporting time and any tests needed. Ask about food, fluids and regular medicines; do not assume fasting is required. Arrange transport, a companion if wanted and support for mobility, hearing, language or communication needs. Check authorisation requirements with the hospital when relevant.
Appointment & treatment planner
Before consultations, scans, treatment visits or procedures.
Confirm the date, location, reporting time and contact. Ask which tests/reports are needed and whether there are food or medicine instructions. Do not fast or stop medicines unless told. Arrange travel, a companion and any access support.
If the patient becomes unwell before the appointment, call the team rather than simply attending or cancelling without advice.
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What to take
- Hospital ID, appointment details and emergency contact information.
- Current prescription, allergy and treatment alert cards, and a care summary.
- Relevant blood results, biopsy and molecular reports, scan reports and access to the images where available.
- A short symptom record, medicines needed during the visit and any food or drinks permitted by the team.
- Insurance or scheme documents, authorisation details and a payment method if required.
One-page care summary
Useful for any family, especially when travelling or seeing more than one team.
Copy details from verified reports. Record the last treatment date accurately. Keep older versions for history, but carry the latest summary. Ask the clinical team to check uncertain details.
Carry official discharge papers and treatment alert cards as well. This summary does not replace them.
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Choose what matters most
With the patient, choose up to three priorities. One important question is enough. Useful questions include: “What is this treatment aiming to achieve?”, “What benefit is expected?”, “What should we watch for at home?”, and “What are the alternatives if this becomes difficult?” Costs, travel, sleep, work and emotional strain are valid topics.
Agree beforehand whether the patient wants you to listen, take notes or help ask questions. Let them speak first if they wish, and add observations with their agreement. Ask permission before recording audio. You can say: “I want to make sure I have understood. Could I repeat the plan back to you?”
Use the consultation worksheet to note your main questions, the agreed plan and next steps. Bring a short, relevant symptom record, the latest prescription and original reports too.
Consultation notes & next steps
Before and during any consultation.
Choose up to three priorities with the patient; one concern is enough. Bring the medicine list and a short summary of changes. Agree who will ask questions or take notes, and ask permission before recording audio. Before leaving, repeat back the plan and check who will arrange each next step.
Ask for clarification if the plan is unclear. Record what was agreed rather than interpreting a report yourself.
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Before you leave
- What changes today? Check which medicines continue, change or stop, and ask for an updated prescription.
- What happens next? Write down the next tests, appointments and who will arrange each one.
- What if there is a problem? Confirm symptoms to report, the contact number and the out-of-hours plan.
Ask for written home instructions and a demonstration of any unfamiliar care task. If something is unclear, ask again. You can say: “Could we go through the most important points once more?”
Keep the paperwork findable
Use a paper folder or phone folders with clear names: diagnosis; treatment; scans; blood tests; medicines; appointments; money. Name a digital file with the date and report type. Share only with people the patient has authorised.
Treatment history
Useful through treatment and afterwards.
Record surgery, radiotherapy and cancer medicines using the written treatment summary. Include the hospital and where the original report is stored. A simple entry is enough; do not guess dose or stage.
Take the latest record to consultations and ask the team to correct anything uncertain.
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References and further reading
Bills, insurance and financial support
Keep treatment costs and paperwork organised, share the practical tasks and know whom to ask for help.
You do not have to manage the costs and paperwork alone. Start with the next payment or application and ask the hospital team who can help you work through it.
One place for money matters
Keep estimates, invoices, receipts, authorisations and claim correspondence together. A simple tracker can show what is billed, paid, due or awaiting reimbursement. Record the person responsible for the next step so one caregiver does not have to remember every deadline.
Bills, payments & receipts
Whenever costs, reimbursements or several payers are involved.
Record the invoice reference, amount billed, amount paid, due date and receipt location. Use one currency per entry. Mark who is following up. Keep bills and receipts together; do not store card numbers, bank passwords or OTPs here.
Check any discrepancy with the provider. Discuss affordability early with the team or hospital financial counsellor; do not alter treatment to manage cost without discussion.
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Before a planned treatment or admission
- Ask for an estimate and what is included or may be charged separately.
- Confirm with the insurer or scheme whether authorisation is needed, who submits it and what documents are required.
- Ask about limits, co-payments, exclusions and arrangements if treatment changes.
- Keep the reference number and a written record of the response.
Ask for the insurer’s or scheme’s decision in writing so you know what is confirmed and what is still being considered. Keep pending applications separate from approved support.
Insurance & assistance tracker
For insurance, employer cover, government schemes or medicine-assistance enquiries.
Record the organisation, reference number, documents requested, deadline, contact and next action. Confirm eligibility and cover directly, including co-payments, limits and whether approval is needed before treatment.
An enquiry or application is not a promise of cover or financial help. Ask the hospital social worker or financial counsellor what may apply to this patient.
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When you need help with costs
Tell the treating team. Ask for the hospital’s social worker, financial counsellor or patient-assistance coordinator. Ask whether an appropriate lower-cost medicine option, support programme, government scheme or payment arrangement may apply. If cost is making medicines or appointments difficult to manage, tell the team before changing or stopping treatment so you can discuss the consequences and alternatives together.
Include the costs around treatment
Travel, accommodation, meals, time off work, childcare and help at home can add up. A trusted relative may be able to take responsibility for claims or transport while someone else focuses on care. Keep passwords, card details and one-time passwords out of these records.
Share the practical work
With the patient’s agreement, choose who will keep receipts, follow up a claim or arrange transport. Write down the next task and its date, and agree who can take over if the usual person is unavailable.
Shared-care rota & handover
When relatives, friends or paid carers take turns.
Agree tasks with the patient. For each one, name who will do it, when it is needed and a backup. At handover, review how the patient is now, the last medicine doses and current instructions, pending calls and the next task or appointment. Give the next caregiver the contact details they may need.
If a task needs nursing skills, ask for teaching or professional support. No one should feel expected to perform care they have not been trained to give.
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Explore treatment costs and support
For help understanding estimates, insurance, government schemes, charitable support and medicine-assistance programmes, see Care, costs and support. It includes practical questions and worksheets alongside each topic.
Ask the hospital’s financial counsellor or social worker which options fit your situation. Take a recent treatment estimate and the documents they request, and agree who will follow up and when.
References and further reading
Looking after yourself and sharing care
Your needs matter in their own right. You can care for someone and still feel tired, frightened, frustrated or in need of time away.
There is no right way to feel
Caring can bring closeness and purpose, but also worry, loneliness, anger or guilt. The role may have been chosen, shared or simply fallen to you. You do not have to feel positive or endlessly willing to deserve support.
Illness can change relationships and familiar roles. You may miss the ordinary life you had together. You can care deeply and still find this difficult.
Make help specific and dependable
“Let me know if you need anything” can be difficult to act on. A smaller request is often easier:
- “Could you take responsibility for collecting medicines this week?”
- “Could you stay from four to six on Thursday so I can rest?”
- “Could you follow up the insurance claim and tell me when it is done?”
Agree the task, who will do it, when it is needed and a backup. With the patient's permission, one person can handle family updates so you do not have to repeat the same news many times.
If there is no one available, say so to the treating team. Ask what home nursing, social-work, community or temporary care support is available locally. A long list of relatives does not always mean practical help is available.
Keep the handover simple
Before someone takes over, go through the current instructions, medicines already taken, important symptoms, pending calls and what happens next. Agree whom they should contact if uncertain. A clear handover can make a break more restful.
Shared-care rota & handover
When relatives, friends or paid carers take turns.
Agree tasks with the patient. For each one, name who will do it, when it is needed and a backup. At handover, review how the patient is now, the last medicine doses and current instructions, pending calls and the next task or appointment. Give the next caregiver the contact details they may need.
If a task needs nursing skills, ask for teaching or professional support. No one should feel expected to perform care they have not been trained to give.
Download blank sheet · Sheet details
Emergency and care-team contacts
Useful for any family, especially before treatment or coming home. You can start with the oncology team and one backup contact.
Add the treating hospital’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers, emergency department, ambulance provider and a backup caregiver. Check the numbers with the team; do not make a test call to an emergency line. Keep a copy in your folder and phone.
If someone is seriously unwell, seek emergency help. Do not wait for a message to be read.
Download blank sheet · Sheet details
Your own essentials belong in the plan
Try to keep your own medicines, medical appointments, meals and sleep in view. If these are repeatedly being missed, the care arrangement needs more support. Taking a break is not a reward you have to earn by finishing every task.
A short pause, a conversation with someone you trust, or time doing something ordinary may help. Choose what suits you; you do not need another self-care checklist to complete.
Listen without having to solve everything
You could ask: “Would you like me to listen, help with something, or just sit with you?” Leave room for fear, sadness or silence. Neither of you has to keep the other cheerful all the time. Everyday conversation, music or a shared programme can still belong in your relationship.
Respect a wish for privacy or quiet. It is also reasonable to set limits on visits and calls, with the patient's agreement, or ask the clinical team to help with a difficult conversation.
Ask for support before you are overwhelmed
If worry, low mood, irritability or exhaustion is affecting your sleep, work, relationships or ability to manage care, speak with your own doctor. The cancer team may also be able to arrange counselling, psycho-oncology (psychological support for people affected by cancer), social work or respite care (someone taking over care for a period).
You can ask for support for yourself even if the patient does not want counselling. A support group is an option, not an obligation. Private professional support may suit you better.
As needs change
After treatment, your role may shift towards recovery and follow-up; your own tiredness or worries may not disappear immediately. With advanced illness, palliative care can support comfort, planning and the family alongside other treatment. Ask for a fresh plan when the current arrangements no longer work.
You are an important part of care. You are not responsible for controlling every symptom or determining the outcome of the illness. Asking for help is a reasonable and caring step.
References and further reading
Printable resources
Choose only what helps. No account or personal details are needed to download a sheet.
Emergency and care-team contacts
Find the right person quickly, including outside clinic hours.
Useful for any family, especially before treatment or coming home. You can start with the oncology team and one backup contact.
Add the treating hospital’s daytime and out-of-hours numbers, emergency department, ambulance provider and a backup caregiver. Check the numbers with the team; do not make a test call to an emergency line. Keep a copy in your folder and phone.
When to ask for helpIf someone is seriously unwell, seek emergency help. Do not wait for a message to be read.
Open or download the blank PDF.
- Role / service
- Name / hospital
- Telephone number
- Hours / when to use
- If unavailable, contact / go to
- Number verified on
One-page care summary
Help a new clinician understand the essentials quickly.
When this tool helps
Useful for any family, especially when travelling or seeing more than one team.
How to use it
Copy details from verified reports. Record the last treatment date accurately. Keep older versions for history, but carry the latest summary. Ask the clinical team to check uncertain details.
When to ask for helpCarry official discharge papers and treatment alert cards as well. This summary does not replace them.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Patient name / hospital ID
- Diagnosis and important details
- Treating team / hospital / 24-hour contact
- Current treatment and most recent date
- Other conditions / devices
- Allergies and reactions, or status unknown
- Where current prescription / medicine list is kept
- Special instructions / goals agreed with the team
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Allergy & treatment alert card
Make important safety information easy to find.
When this tool helps
Useful for any family. Keep the team-issued treatment alert card with this record.
How to use it
Record the medicine or substance and the reaction, not just “allergy”. Use “status unknown” if unsure. Record relevant treatments such as immunotherapy, cellular therapy or blood thinners and the dates. Ask the team what needs an alert. If you are unsure whether a reaction was an allergy or a side effect, describe it and ask the clinician or pharmacist to check; do not decide the label yourself.
When to ask for helpThis is a companion record, not a replacement for an official immunotherapy, transplant or other treatment alert card.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Patient name / identifier
- Allergy statusOptions: Known allergy; Suspected allergy; No known drug allergies; Status unknown.
- Medicine / substance
- Reaction, severity and when it occurred
- Treatment requiring an alert / last date
- Team instructions / contact
- Details checked with / date
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Treatment history
Bring important treatment dates together in one place.
When this tool helps
Useful through treatment and afterwards.
How to use it
Record surgery, radiotherapy and cancer medicines using the written treatment summary. Include the hospital and where the original report is stored. A simple entry is enough; do not guess dose or stage.
When to ask for helpTake the latest record to consultations and ask the team to correct anything uncertain.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Treatment / procedure
- Dates / cycle / course
- Team / hospital
- Important details / complications
- Report location / filename
- Next planned step
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Pain diary
Show how pain changes and whether the agreed treatment is helping.
When this tool helps
Use when pain is present or the clinical team asks for a record.
How to use it
Ask the patient to score their own pain now from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Record the site, effect on activity or sleep, treatment taken and later response. Use the same question each time. A number cannot describe everything. If the patient cannot rate pain, leave the number blank, describe what you observe and ask for assessment.
When to ask for helpContact the team for new or worsening pain or inadequate relief. Sudden severe pain, chest pain or pain with new weakness needs urgent assessment. Do not calculate or change medicine doses from the score.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Patient’s pain score now (0–10)
- Where / what does it feel like?
- Effect on movement, sleep or eating
- Medicine / dose / time actually taken
- Reassessment time
- Pain score on reassessment (0–10)
- Other help / unwanted effects / advice received
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Symptoms and wellbeing record
Make it easier to explain what changed, when it began and what helped.
When this tool helps
Use on days when symptoms or care needs are changing.
How to use it
Choose the symptoms that matter today. Write when they started, whether they are improving or worsening, and how they affect normal activities. Blank boxes mean not recorded, not “normal”.
When to ask for helpUse the urgent-help guide for concerning changes. Recording a symptom does not send an alert to a clinician.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Symptom / concern
- When it started / changed
- What is harder to do?
- ChangeOptions: New; Improving; Unchanged; Worsening.
- What was done / advice received
- What needs follow-up / by when
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Temperature & optional vital signs
Keep requested observations together with how the patient feels.
When this tool helps
Temperature when unwell and whenever the team advises. Other readings only if requested.
How to use it
Record the time, device/site and units. Follow the device instructions and your team’s method. Ask which readings to take, how often and the action thresholds. Do not buy equipment simply to complete this sheet. Select °C or °F; do not mix units.
When to ask for helpDuring chemotherapy or treatment-related infection risk, 38°C (100.4°F) or above needs immediate contact and assessment; follow any lower threshold given. Sudden illness matters even with a normal reading.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Temperature
- Temperature unitOptions: °C; °F.
- Temperature method / site
- Blood pressure, if requested (mmHg)
- Pulse, if requested (/min)
- Oxygen saturation, if requested (%)
- Symptoms / action taken
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Blood-glucose record
Help the team review an agreed diabetes or steroid-monitoring plan.
When this tool helps
Only when the treating team asks for glucose monitoring.
How to use it
Use the same meter and follow training. Record whether the reading was before or after food, relevant medicine and symptoms. Always select the correct unit. Write the individual low/high action plan on the printed sheet or in the notes.
When to ask for helpFollow the agreed low/high glucose action plan immediately. Do not change doses using this chart alone. If the person is very drowsy, cannot swallow safely or is unconscious, give nothing by mouth and seek emergency help.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Glucose reading
- UnitOptions: mg/dL; mmol/L.
- Relation to meal
- Relevant medicine / time
- Symptoms
- Action / individual thresholds
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Food & nutrition diary
Help identify what the patient can manage and what makes eating difficult.
When this tool helps
Use when appetite is reduced, weight is falling or the dietitian asks for a record.
How to use it
Record what the patient ate and roughly how much: all, three-quarters, half, a quarter or a few mouthfuls. Note protein foods and anything that made eating difficult. Approximate portions are more useful than guessed calories. Use the record to understand what helps, not to press the person to finish food.
When to ask for helpTell the team about continuing poor intake or weight loss. Request dietitian support. Coughing, choking or difficulty swallowing needs assessment.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Meal / snack / time
- Food or nutritional drink
- Approximate amount eaten
- Protein food included
- What made eating difficult?
- What helped / advice needed
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Weight record
Show a trend that can help a nutrition or fluid review.
When this tool helps
When weight monitoring is useful; ask how often. Daily weighing is not necessary for everyone.
How to use it
Use the same scales and similar clothing/time when possible. Record swelling, reduced intake or a major change in conditions. Weight changes can reflect fluid as well as nutrition.
When to ask for helpShare ongoing weight loss or unexpected rapid changes with the team. Ask for an assessment rather than adjusting food or fluids from weight alone.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Weight (kg)
- Time / scales / clothing
- Eating compared with usual
- Swelling / other symptoms
- Advice / action
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Fluid-intake record
Make drinking easier to review when intake is a concern.
When this tool helps
Use when the patient is drinking poorly or the team requests tracking.
How to use it
Measure a favourite cup once and write its volume. Record what was actually consumed in mL, not what was offered. Ask which liquids count towards any prescribed target or restriction.
When to ask for helpAsk the team for an individual goal; there is no single target for everyone. Seek prompt advice for reduced drinking, vomiting or much less urine; severe weakness, confusion or inability to retain fluids needs urgent assessment.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Drink / liquid
- Amount actually taken (mL)
- Team’s daily target / restriction
- Difficulties / symptoms
- Advice / action
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Intake–output chart
Provide a measured record when the clinical team needs fluid monitoring.
When this tool helps
Only when requested, for a clearly stated period and with practical instructions.
How to use it
Record each intake or loss once, in mL, over the interval agreed with the team. Use measured volumes where possible; if the team permits estimates, label them. If an amount is unknown, leave it blank rather than entering zero. Do not manipulate a catheter or drain unless trained and instructed.
When to ask for helpRecorded intake minus recorded output is not a complete measure of hydration: breathing, sweat and unmeasured losses are not captured. Do not use the totals to change fluids, diuretics or treatment.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- DirectionOptions: Intake; Output.
- Type / route
- Volume (blank if unknown) (mL)
- Measured / estimated / not measurableOptions: Measured; Estimated; Not measurable.
- Symptoms / missing amounts / advice
- Team-requested recording interval / plan
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Bowel record
Explain changes from the patient’s usual bowel pattern.
When this tool helps
Use for constipation, diarrhoea or when a bowel plan is being adjusted.
How to use it
Record each bowel movement with its date and time, and describe it in words: hard, formed, soft or watery. Note how many there have been in the past 24 hours compared with the patient's usual pattern, any pain or blood, and medicines taken. If there has been no bowel movement, record when the last one occurred. Do not count a blank entry as normal.
When to ask for helpReport new or increasing diarrhoea promptly; during or after immunotherapy, contact the team early and follow their written plan. Ask for advice if constipation persists despite the agreed plan. Do not use an enema or suppository unless the team recommends it. Severe abdominal pain, swelling, vomiting or inability to pass wind needs urgent assessment.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Usual bowel pattern
- Bowel movements in the past 24 hours
- Stool descriptionOptions: Hard / difficult to pass; Formed; Soft; Watery; No bowel movement recorded.
- Pain / blood / other changes
- Bowel medicine / dose / time
- Advice / action
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Current medicine schedule
Create one clear list for the patient, family and clinicians.
When this tool helps
Useful whenever more than one medicine is prescribed or instructions change.
How to use it
Copy the latest prescription: name, strength, dose, route, exact times, treatment days and food instructions. Include supplements. Mark each medicine Current, Stopped, Superseded or Needs checking, with the date. When a plan changes, update the previous entry too. Ask the pharmacist to check which medicines are current.
When to ask for helpThis is a record, not a prescription. Update after every change. Ask for medicine-specific advice on a missed or vomited dose; do not improvise or double an anticancer dose.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Medicine name / strength
- Reason for taking
- Prescribed dose / route
- Exact times / treatment days
- Food / special instructions
- Prescription statusOptions: Current; Stopped; Superseded; Needs checking.
- Start / stop / review dates and earlier notes
- TypeOptions: Regular; Only when needed.
- If needed: minimum interval / maximum prescribed
- Prescriber / refill due
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Medicine administration record
Help caregivers see which doses have actually been given.
When this tool helps
Useful when relatives share care or a medicine schedule is complex.
How to use it
Choose one shared main record of doses taken. Write the medicine, amount, actual time and who gave it immediately after the dose. If missed or not taken, state that and the advice sought. A mention in another diary is not an additional dose.
When to ask for helpCheck the current prescription before each dose. Do not treat an empty box as proof that a medicine has not been given; check with the patient and other caregivers.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Medicine / strength
- Dose / route
- Scheduled time
- StatusOptions: Taken / given; Not taken; Vomited after dose; Uncertain — checking.
- Recorded by
- Reason / advice / next action
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
As-needed medicine & response
Record extra symptom-relief doses and whether they helped.
When this tool helps
When the patient has prescribed as-needed medicines.
How to use it
Copy the prescribed minimum interval and maximum dose first. Record what was actually taken, why, the time and the response when reviewed. Keep pain scores in the pain diary if useful.
When to ask for helpAsk for a review if extra doses are needed more often, symptoms remain troublesome or there are side effects. Being unusually difficult to wake or slow/difficult breathing after a medicine needs emergency help.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Medicine / dose / route
- Reason / symptom
- Minimum interval / maximum prescribed in 24 hours
- Reassessment time
- Response / side effects
- Advice / action
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Appointment & treatment planner
Reduce last-minute uncertainty about tests, travel and treatment.
When this tool helps
Before consultations, scans, treatment visits or procedures.
How to use it
Confirm the date, location, reporting time and contact. Ask which tests/reports are needed and whether there are food or medicine instructions. Do not fast or stop medicines unless told. Arrange travel, a companion and any access support.
When to ask for helpIf the patient becomes unwell before the appointment, call the team rather than simply attending or cancelling without advice.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Appointment / treatment
- Hospital / department / clinician
- Date / reporting time
- Tests / preparation / medicine instructions
- Travel / companion / access needs
- Reports / prescription / authorisation
- Outstanding tasks / responsible person
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Consultation notes & next steps
Make sure the patient’s priorities and the agreed plan are remembered.
When this tool helps
Before and during any consultation.
How to use it
Choose up to three priorities with the patient; one concern is enough. Bring the medicine list and a short summary of changes. Agree who will ask questions or take notes, and ask permission before recording audio. Before leaving, repeat back the plan and check who will arrange each next step.
When to ask for helpAsk for clarification if the plan is unclear. Record what was agreed rather than interpreting a report yourself.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Clinician / hospital
- Our three priorities
- Answers / decisions
- Medicine or care changes
- Next tests / visits / who will arrange
- Who to contact with questions
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Bills, payments & receipts
Keep medical or household bills and payment deadlines visible without relying on memory.
When this tool helps
Whenever costs, reimbursements or several payers are involved.
How to use it
Record the invoice reference, amount billed, amount paid, due date and receipt location. Use one currency per entry. Mark who is following up. Keep bills and receipts together; do not store card numbers, bank passwords or OTPs here.
When to ask for helpCheck any discrepancy with the provider. Discuss affordability early with the team or hospital financial counsellor; do not alter treatment to manage cost without discussion.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Provider / item
- Invoice / reference
- Amount billed
- Amount paid
- Currency (e.g. INR)
- Due date
- Receipt location / follow-up owner
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Insurance & assistance tracker
Follow authorisations, claims and assistance applications through to completion.
When this tool helps
For insurance, employer cover, government schemes or medicine-assistance enquiries.
How to use it
Record the organisation, reference number, documents requested, deadline, contact and next action. Confirm eligibility and cover directly, including co-payments, limits and whether approval is needed before treatment.
When to ask for helpAn enquiry or application is not a promise of cover or financial help. Ask the hospital social worker or financial counsellor what may apply to this patient.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Insurer / scheme / assistance programme
- Claim / application reference
- Current status
- Documents still needed
- Deadline / follow-up date
- Contact / owner
- Next action / outcome
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Shared-care rota & handover
Share clear responsibilities, keep the next caregiver informed and make time away possible.
When this tool helps
When relatives, friends or paid carers take turns.
How to use it
Agree tasks with the patient. For each one, name who will do it, when it is needed and a backup. At handover, review how the patient is now, the last medicine doses and current instructions, pending calls and the next task or appointment. Give the next caregiver the contact details they may need.
When to ask for helpIf a task needs nursing skills, ask for teaching or professional support. No one should feel expected to perform care they have not been trained to give.
View the blank sheet
Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Day / shift / period
- Person responsible / backup
- Tasks / arrangements
- Last doses checked / where recorded
- New symptoms / advice / pending calls
- What the next caregiver needs to know
Sources
Related caregiver guidance
Coming home & practical care checklist
Turn the discharge instructions into a home-care plan your family can manage.
When this tool helps
Before coming home or when care needs change.
How to use it
Ask for written medicine changes, pending results, follow-up and contact routes. Check meals, walking/toileting, equipment, transport, household bills and dependent care. Ask a nurse to demonstrate any unfamiliar task and watch you practise.
When to ask for helpTell the team if safe care is not possible at home. Arrange trained support for tasks such as feeding tubes, injections, drains or wound care.
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Open or download the blank PDF.
What you can record
- Task / need
- Agreed plan / instructions
- Person responsible / backup
- Teaching / equipment needed
- Needed by
- Done / outstanding / help requested
Sources
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